West Brom 2-0 Spurs

By Jemma Tappenden
January 30 2009

Tony Mowbray made five changes to the side which lost 2-0 at Chelsea on Boxing day. Moore and Bednar were both returned to the starting line up as Beattie dropped to the bench, and Robert Koren who was absent with a flu virus was replaced by the now recovered Borja Valero. Cech and Barnett filled in at the back for the suspended Robinson and injured Meite respectively.

After a slow start from both sides Albion produced the first chance in the 8th minute.  Marek Cech did well to find Morrison down the right and the Scottish International skipped past Assou-Ekotto before placing his 20 yard effort wide of the sticks.

An Albion free kick in the 14th minute produced a fine save from Gomes after Valero curled round a superb free kick on the edge of the box where Luke Moore had been fouled by Dawson.  This was followed by a Spurs half chance, although Olsson was alert to the danger from Lennon's testing cross and played the ball out for a corner before its arrival in the heart of the box.

Spurs really threatened in the 22nd minute when Luka Modric released Darren Bent up front.  Shrugging off all challenges from Barnett the England International got a straight run through to Carson, but fired his effort straight into the arms of the Baggies goalie.

The game took a dramatic twist in the 34th minute when Spurs defender Assou-Ekotto was dismissed from the game having been shown a straight red card for an over the top of the ball challenge on Gianni Zuiverloon.  Zuiverloon also left the field of play for treatment, but returned able to carry on with the game some minutes later.

Olsson tested Gomes' resolve a few moments later with a header from Greening's flag kick, and a few minutes later Bednar was well off target with his header from a Morrison cross.

In the 41st minute a horrible mix up in the Albion defence gifted David Bentley with an opportunity to grab a goal for 10 man Spurs, but his effort was just inches wide of the target.  Albion responded with an immediate charge up field, where Cech released a thundering 25 yard effort which cannoned off Lennon and out of play.

Half Time: West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Tottneham Hotspur

Brunt came agonisingly close to scoring for the Baggies three minutes into the second half.  His 20 yard free kick was curling perfectly towards the top right corner as Gomes produced a stunning finger tipped save to keep his side on level terms.  He produced a second save just moments later from a Zuiverloon effort.

Albion looked to have really exposed the Spurs defence in the 69th minute when Zuiverloon played in a cutting cross.  But Dawson was on call to get rid of the danger, denying Luke Moore a simple tap in for a second goal in Albion colours.

West Brom were applying serious pressure to Harry Redknapp's side, desperately trying to turn the 10 men side into their advantage.  Finally in the 83rd minute the patience paid off.  Cech, who had been superb for Albion all afternoon, played a diagonal ball into the box where a waiting Roman Bednar towered above the Spurs backline to head home his second goal in succession at the Hawthorns.  Despite severe protests from Spurs that Bednar had fouled Dawson in the process, ref Steve Tanner - already the subject of some scrutiny for the first half sending off, allowed the goal to stand.

There was a late score for the Baggies however, as Lennon some how muscled in a shot from a throw in.  Somehow after a deflection off Greening the ball found its way to the arms of Scott Carson.

Four minutes into injury time Cech held off several challenges to play Morrison clear.  Pacing into the box he squared to an unmarked Beattie, who made no mistake in doubling Albion's lead with a 6 yard shot and the last kick of the game.

Full Time: West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur

Bednar (83)

Beattie (90+4)

Attendance: 26,344